Build a Risk-Free Finished Basement

Capturing this additional living space correctly and confidently requires a careful approach to the site and foundation.

Synopsis: It’s no surprise that finishing a basement is a popular project. It can add living space to a house at far less cost and complexity than building an addition. At the same time, because of the heightened threat from water and moisture, a basement remodel can create problems if it’s not done correctly. With that in mind, architect Steve Baczek shares his approach to finishing basements, which begins with an assessment of the risk from water and moisture. Drawings demonstrate typical strategies for detailing basements with low, medium, and high levels of risk, and a sidebar discusses code considerations. Through a drawing of the exterior of a house and its site, Baczek shows the steps to take for managing water before even beginning work on the basement.

Finishing a basement can create extra living space with far less cost and complexity than an addition that expands the…

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